MTN Ghana has launched a GH¢1.2 million model farm project at Pantang Hospital to train women farmers in modern agricultural practices aimed at improving productivity, food safety and sustainable farming.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with Holland Greentech and the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, would provide practical training for smallholder farmers while promoting safer and more efficient farming techniques.
The project formed part of activities marking International Women’s Day and was expected to strengthen the role of women in Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, Adwoa Wiafe said that the project sought to empower women farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to improve their livelihoods and contribute to national food security.
She noted that women remained a critical force in agriculture and must be supported with access to modern farming knowledge and opportunities.
According to her, the model farm would provide hands-on training in improved farming methods and serve as a learning hub for farmers within the municipality.
We promised the women that we would return to establish a model farm where they could receive practical training in modern agricultural methods, and today we are fulfilling that commitment,” she said.
About 60 women farmers were expected to benefit directly from the programme, where they would learn improved crop management techniques, sustainable production practices and modern cultivation methods.
MTN Ghana believes the knowledge gained would not only benefit the participants but also extend to other farmers within their communities as beneficiaries share what they learn.
Ms Wiafe explained that the initiative builds on earlier engagements with women farmers in 2022 when MTN facilitated visits to farms in Akuse, Sontor and the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School area to expose farmers to modern agricultural practices.
She added that the project aligned with the focus areas of the MTN Foundation, which includes health, education and economic empowerment, aimed at supporting communities through sustainable development initiatives.
West Africa Regional Director of Holland Greentech, Celestina Danso Arhin, emphasised the need for farmers to adopt safer and more efficient farming methods to improve food quality and protect farmer health.
She cautioned farmers against the excessive use of pesticides, warning that improper chemical use could pose health risks to both farmers and consumers.
Instead, she encouraged the adoption of integrated pest management systems, regular water quality testing and improved cultivation methods such as trellising to enhance crop quality.
Ms Arhin also urged farmers to organise themselves into cooperatives to improve their access to financing, farm inputs and markets.
According to her, modern farming techniques made it possible to achieve strong yields even on relatively small parcels of land.
The Municipal Director of Agriculture for the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, Lydia Aku Fiatuho, commended the initiative and highlighted the important role women played in Ghana’s agricultural sector.
She noted that women contributed more than 50 percent of the agricultural workforce and remained central to food production.
Mrs Fiatuho encouraged the beneficiary farmers to take full advantage of the opportunity and actively participate in the training programme.
source : www.businessghana.com
